FAILED 9minor marks - 1 serious fault

Hey I failed too my first time!  It sucks, but you will be fine later! 

I mean I failed after having driven in the UK for a year and with 16 plus accident and ticket free years driving all over the USA.   I took my in an automatic too.

What I don't get is why the insistence on manual by some peoples spouses? No one was going to tell me what I should drive or which test to take... I tried driving a manual a few times... I don't like it... at all... so why should I have to drive a manual?  I have enough to worry about with stop and go traffic, narrow hedgerows, roundabouts, stupid drivers and sheep. 

I can drive a manual in an emergency... that's all that matters.. one day when I feel rich I might even take manual lessons... but to be honest... I am perfectly happy in my automatic.

It's not just spouses, but other men (normally) that make strange side comments about automatics.  Must be the stick thing...  

I spent a good 1.5hrs at the gym and I feel much better! 

I had some frustration to work out and am feeling much more confident already that I will pass next - the attitude will be adjusted and I will be positive about it. I just hate to fail and this was a big knock to my ego, after I passed the theory test with a 100% on the mult. choice.

As for suggestions for others:

1) Take lessons! I took lessons for over 5months - 1 a week (@ 23 pounds a pop!) and the 2 weeks before was at least 2 a week
2) Mentally prepare - go through all the manuveuers (The ones I did really well at!) and imagine yourself doing it perfectly
3) don't drive much outside of your lessons before your test - my car is way different than my instructor's car and I avoided driving yesterday just to make it easier this morning
4) have a lesson right before the test - helps calm the nerves (a bit anyway)
5) be polite no matter what - I wanted to say something nasty, but that would have been bad, so I took it home and spewed obscenities and threatened to go home (was quite amusing actually)
6) take your time - there's no rush to get a license, at least since I can still drive here on my american one

Thank you again  to everyone that shared their experiences, I sincerely hope and pray that I pass the second time...on Feb 16th at 840am (talk about early!) I'm sure if i pass, I won't think twice about it again until one of my future children have to do it in the future.

If there is any way of changing that time, pittpanther.... i'd try to change it.
Because 8.40 is during the rush hour for people going to work, and the roads are likely to be crowded with half-asleep idiots.

Perhaps not the best time for you to be trying to demonstrate that you are a 'perfect'    driver!
(unless of course, the route your examiner uses would not be affected by morning traffic...)

Vnincepeeps, I'd be curious to know the difficulties of the automatic test, because I too feel more comfortable in an automatic. 

Also, if you don't take lessons, who's car do you do the test in?  I plan on attempting it first time with not lessons, fingers crossed, don't you take the test in your own car?  I'm a bit confused with the system here.

Actually..8:40 is the time I took mine... it is good for one reason... you won't be going much of anywhere fast.. you likely will get stuck in traffic which cuts down on the time you have for them to think of nutty roads to take you down.

Then again I live in a city...

It depends on how you do in traffic though...

The automatic is the same test only without having to worry about changing gears... they can still make you stop on very steep hills and they check handbrake usage..

When doing a turn in the road you have to use your emergency break... it's probably the stangest thing to get used to -using the brake at times you never would in the USA....

You can take the test in your car, but rumor has it that they like to see the instructors car as it shows you've been taking lessons...

I used my instructors car beacuse he also talked me through all the manouvers and where exactly to look and line up things... which helped a lot in reversing around corners, backing into spaces etc.

You have to make sure they see your eyes checking the mirrors and blind spots... you have to be very obvious about things... watch your speed like a hawk.

Unfortunately it also has to do with who you have testing you too... there are "nicer" ones and not so nice ones. 

My first guy was a twit which did nothing to help my nerves. The second guy was very professional and decent.

Actually..8:40 is the time I took mine... it is good for one reason... you won't be going much of anywhere fast.. you likely will get stuck in traffic which cuts down on the time you have for them to think of nutty roads to take you down.

Good point!

though ...make sure you are good with those signals and looking over your shoulder if you have to lose a lane in a roundabout or get over for whatever reason...if it's bumper to bumper...

Pittpanther -- You've been taking lessons & the test in Leeds, haven't you?  I was thinking of actually training & testing in the Harrogate district because I've heard it's a little less --- I don't know, urban, I guess?  Like more countryside, less spaghetti junction, things like that.  Any impressions of doing it in Leeds to share?

Took it in Eccleshill - bradford actually and around Rodley, Horsforth and some city driving (though only to get me to Uni, otherwise, they avoid it).

I would recommend taking it wherever you will be comfortable. I heard bad things about the harrogate test center - that they're harder than others locally. I'd reconsider it or ask an instructor.

You will get used to driving here, give yourself a good 10 lessons and you will be more confident. I felt very intimidated at first and now I feel much more at home with driving here. Now, I just have to pass my test in 2 weeks time.

Pittpanther -- You've been taking lessons & the test in Leeds, haven't you?  I was thinking of actually training & testing in the Harrogate district because I've heard it's a little less --- I don't know, urban, I guess?  Like more countryside, less spaghetti junction, things like that.  Any impressions of doing it in Leeds to share?

Carolyn, when you start taking lessons, I'm sure your instructor will be able to give you tips about where to take it. My instructor here was familiar with most of the examiners and knew which ones were good, which testing site was "easiest," etc. If your instructor has been around for a while, I'm sure he/she will be a wealth of knowledge!

pittpanther....know how you feel....

I recently took my second driving test here in Huddersfield...I would have passed as well if only....

at a junction I was sat there waiting since I had to yield.  Hand brake on.  When it was my time to go, I released the hand brake, and went on my way.

Examiner says, "Sari, your handbrake light is on".  I knew right then I had failed.  What happened (and I think it was nerves) was that the handbrake got caught on the last tether.  It didn't affect the car driving at all, and I guess I SHOULD have seen the light, but in all of my panic to make sure I look in the other 18 million areas that I have to, I just didn't even notice it.  Got back to find out that was the only serious that I had, and would have convincingly passed had it not been for that.  My driving examiner was gutted for me, and said he's never had anyone fail for that reason ever before.  Hooray for me 

Well that was 3 weeks ago, I was supposed to have a test a week from tomorrow, but I don't think I can do it - I'm going to cancel.  I will physically be ill having to go through this all again so soon.  I'll probably rebook in a months time or something. 

Good luck - others here know exactly how you feel

-Sari

I finally passed when it became a matter of taking some extended lessons to get rid of my merrican bad  driving habits and realise what i needed to do to pass the test.

What are the American bad driving habits?  Please tell, so I'll know what I need to break!

crossing your hands on the steering wheel!

driving with one hand!

crossing your hands on the steering wheel!

That was the biggest one for me! But, of course, now that I have my license, I'm free to criss-cross all over the place! 

But, of course, now that I have my license, I'm free to criss-cross all over the place! 

yeah... me too!
And driving with one hand... my friends seem to be amazed (and/or terrified) at my one-handed driving while the other hand is holding a drink.  Hey... I grew up in Southern California!  Always-Always-Always had a Big Gulp in one hand!